Farmer fury over ‘ill-informed’ native vegetation map

Farming peak bodies say the map could see landholders hit with land clearing penalties, due to inaccurate map.

Farmers fear a major review of land clearing laws by the state government will lead to swathes of their properties being locked up, with claims a new map declaring what is native vegetation on their farms is inaccurate.

Environment Minister Penny Sharpe’s response to a major review of land clearing rules, released in July, included a pledge to end excess land clearing – but farmers say a key map of land of regional properties stipulating what is native vegetation could lead to them being wrongly whacked with penalties.

NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map could force farmers to keep “invasive woody weeds” on their properties, or be slammed with penalties for land clearing.

“We’ve raised some serious concerns about this draft map with the government, it can’t even distinguish between one type of tree or shrub from another, and if it goes ahead as planned many farmers will be forced to keep invasive woody weeds on their land or else be prosecuted as climate vandals,” he said.

He added if the draft maps were given “regulatory force … they are likely to pull the handbrake on agricultural production across NSW”.

NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin on his Grain Farm in Mullaley. Picture: Tim Hunter

“The irony is this map was supposedly about improving biodiversity, but that will only go backwards if we’re forced to lock up land filled with invasive woody weeds to appease the ill-informed in Sydney who are so caught up in the theory they can’t create practical solutions,” he said.

NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said it was “very hard to comprehend” the maps were accurate, given landowners disputing them, while warning the review of land clearing rules could take clamp down further on farmers’ ability to manage their own land.

“The reality is the native vegetation laws have never been a free for all – you always had to check with Local Land Services before you cleared anything – but the way the map shows it, you could slash a paddock and be charged with landclearing,” he said.

A Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water spokesman said landowners had been allowed to seek free reviews.

The map “gives farmers certainty about what land is exempt from regulation and the range of options available to clear native vegetation on regulated land” and “reduces landholder risk of inadvertently breaching the Local Land Services Act”.

Do you have a story for The Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]